Well friends, only a little over 24 hours before I board that plan to Beijing. I can't get over how excited, scared, anxious and downright FREAKED OUT I am at the fact that I am going to be living in China for the summer.
I have been moved out of my apartment for the past week and 1/2 but I still feel like I have a lot to do before I go... Mainly working a few hours tomorrow morning, getting my bags all completely packed, as well as mentally preparing myself for the adventure of a lifetime. Oh, and I have to deal with a little car trouble that happened on the school parking lot where I work... I'm not going to get too into it, but it involved my bumper, the parking lot security gate and a few tears on my part. Luckily, I wasn't in the car and no one was hurt, but to say the least, this was DEFINITELY NOT something I wanted to have to deal with 2 days before I leave for CHINA!
If you have any last minute advice, I would LOVE to hear it. Even some travel tips on how to try and get a good amount of sleep on a coach seat while flying across the International dateline. :)
One thing I regret? I was hoping to get there and have a few words in Mandarin memorized but that didn't happen... Maybe on the 13 hour plane ride over? Hmmm...
So I am blog creeping... but only because I am insanely jealous! I am Reid Mann's little sister and spent a semester in China that changed my life! My husband I spent 4 years living in San Diego before moving to Alaska where I now teach ESL... so we might just have a little in common;). If I could pass a few bits of (Chinese) wisdom it would be...
ReplyDelete1. When shopping in the markets a price is rarely "set" so bargain HARD, they usually ask foreigners for 3x the price (roughly).
2. Take the Audio tours.. Yes you look like a tourist but you will learn more than you can ever realize on your own and who wouldn't want to listen to 007's voice for 2 hours. (Particularly at the Forbidden City).
3. See more than Beijing if you can!
Can't wait to hear more about your amazing adventure! Good Luck!
- Melanie McGinnis
Go for restaurants that look a bit tatty and are packed with Chinese. If the waiters don't speak a word English and the menu is only in Chinese, you're just fine. Often, you can point at a picture and in worst (best?) case, you can point at another customer's dish. (Though... I don't know whether that would be considered rude.)
ReplyDeleteGood luck you two adventurers!!!